A timed gaming event has a start time, a defined duration, and an end time. In one embodiment, the timed gaming event comprises a period of time during which the payout for winning results is enhanced, such as by a multiplier. In another embodiment, the timed event is a tournament in which players of multiple gaming machines play a plurality of games. The winner(s) of the tournament is determined by the aggregate outcomes of each player's play of the multiple games during the event, such as the player having the highest aggregated winnings for games played during the event. Another event is a timed bonus period of a main game, during which a player is provided the opportunity to play a bonus game for enhanced winnings.